Brokenwood Mysteries

- [Narrator] "She climbed the stairs soundlessly, feeling a frisson of excitement.

That was almost like a sexual pleasure as she thought of the knife about to penetrate his flesh.

- This man had used her, but now she would use him.

Call it target practice, call it butchering.

Well, she would cleave him head from shoulders like a log on a block, and watch his life paint the walls crimson.

She could feel her cheeks burning.

- [Narrator] She could see his shadow.

- Is this your jam, chicks offing guys for sport?

- Well, the perpetrator isn't always female, he's a equal opportunity author.

- Yeah, I've read him.

Don't think much of his style.

- Well, you wait till you see him.

Oh Christ.

We are so late.

- You could turn the sirens on.

- "She could see his shadow on the wall, his long legs, his mane of hair, those shoulders.

Mm.

The back she had clung to in raptures, the neck she dreamed of kissing.

Heart thudding like a hammer.

She spoke his name softly.

He turned."

Sorry if we could pause there.

- Oh God, don't stop.

- Sorry.

I'm a little dry.

- Speak for yourself.

- Perhaps we could.

- Of course.

Let's take a break.

- After which I'll be sure to satisfy you completely.

- If I could have some help with the supper.

- Can I?

- Thank you.

- Come on.

We're missing the reading.

- Well, you really should have put these in a tin.

- Oh, it's bring a plate.

Book club rules apparently.

- This is so your first time, right?

- Oh God.

Just give it here.

Oh, shit.

- And that's why.

- Oh my God.

- Three second rule.

- Yes, quick.

- Okay.

No sausage roll shall be left behind.

- Oh, okay.

More sauce inside.

Oh, sorry.

- This is the guy.

- Mm.

It doesn't do him any justice.

- Man, you've got it bad, eh?

- I just really like his books.

- Yeah, right.

- Come on.

- His books.

- Has he started?

- We only just got here.

My sausage rolls took forever.

But we're not the only late ones.

- I'm not late.

- The reading started over half an hour ago.

- I don't want to hear him read.

I just want to see him.

- You got the hots for this guy too?

- Hots?

No.

A bone to pick, yes.

- What sort of a bone?

- We should go in.

- Yeah, the major hots.

- I hope he's signing books.

Ah, damn, we've missed it.

- Only a wonderful first half, supper break.

- Oh good.

Well these just wouldn't crisp.

- Did you use an egg wash?

- No.

- Oh, absolutely essential.

- Oh.

- Oh, I might heat these up a bit.

They get really claggy when they're cold.

- Great cheese rolls, Mrs M. - Thank you, Jared.

They're always a popular item.

- Great kai indeed.

- How was the reading?

- He was hamming it up a bit.

- Oh, are you a fan?

- Excuse me, I might just go and hunt down a cup of tea.

- Oops.

Taxi.

- You insinuating something?

- It was a joke, Maxine.

- I don't see the funny side.

- Maybe it'll come to you.

- Ah, if you don't get it the first time, how funny is it?

- Oh, you made those?

- My mother's recipe.

- Oh, I might like to note that.

Mm, they're very good.

- I can vouch for that.

- Hey, I'm gonna shoot through.

- Oh no, he's reading again after supper.

- Oh, I'm good.

I reckon he's a bit overrated.

Jimmy Jane Austen any day.

(Petra screaming) - Everyone stay where you are.

(intense music) (Petra screaming) I need everyone to remain in this room, we have a team on their way.

- Oh, can I make a cup of tea for Petra?

She's had a nasty shock.

- No, I can't have everybody moving around a crime scene.

- Thanks for holding the fort.

- Oh, he's on the stairs.

- Yeah.

Get the area cordoned off.

Who found him?

- You know her.

She has a Corgi.

- My ex-wife is part of a book club.

- That's a new one.

- Part of her fresh start, maybe?

- That's part of something, no doubt.

Ah, get talking.

I'm gonna have a chat with the author.

- Hey, this could take some time.

And I was thinking, ah yeah, take off while you can.

- Love your work.

- Why is he allowed to leave?

- Because he was with me the whole time and he's not a suspect.

- Ah.

And we are?

- Well, it's just procedure.

We need to know where everybody else was.

- What they saw, what they heard.

- Are there any other spaces we can use just to give people some privacy?

- Well, there's the kitchen and the special nook.

- Right.

You use the hall, I'll take the kitchen and Mike can have the nook.

- I have the kitchen.

- You know you can't eat the food, right?

- Yeah, but I can just look at it.

- Yeah, no.

Can you talk to the girl first?

She looks like she needs to go home.

- Why am I being contained here?

We arrived together.

I did not leave this room.

I'm missing a valuable opportunity to examine a fresh corpse.

- The man's hardly cold.

- This is my point.

- Yeah, you go.

- So what's your story, Jack?

- Stabbed in the back.

Someone's sending a message here.

- Betrayal?

- Revenge.

- Someone's idea of a joke.

"Knife in the Back," this is the title of his latest book and this is how the victim dies.

- Someone's recreating it?

- Exactly.

- So who done it and the who done it.

- I mean, that is not a line of inquiry you should follow.

The book is fiction.

- Nonetheless.

- A deranged pathologist commits the murder.

- Ah.

- She's called clinical, in my view, an unconvincing character.

- I'm sorry.

I'm devastated.

I invited Jack to come here.

- Did you know him well?

- We only met five days ago, but we connected before that.

I reached out to him about doing a reading.

I was lucky to get him.

Superstars like Jack do international festivals.

They don't do small town bookshops like this.

- But he did for you?

- I made it worth his while.

- You offered him a fee?

- Of course.

I paid for everything.

Airfares, accommodation.

- That must have come to a... - Oh, money wasn't the issue.

I divorced well.

I can afford to indulge my passion, which is books and the amazing people who write them.

So I didn't stint to get Jack, first class travel, a very luxurious Airbnb.

- Well, you must have really wanted him.

- I did.

- Easy on the wine.

You've had a shock.

- Yeah, I'm shattered.

It's not every day you trip over a dead guy.

- Why did you go upstairs?

- To find a loo.

- And instead you found.

- I still can't quite believe it.

I mean, an hour ago he was alive, radiating this magnetic energy and.

- Did you know him at all before tonight?

- By reputation.

I read his books.

- Never met him though?

- Maxine was over the moon when she scored him.

She's talked about nothing else for the last few weeks.

I'm wiped out.

Are we done?

- Yeah, for now.

- Okay.

- We might need to get a DNA sample.

You alright?

- Yeah.

Why?

- Well, you found the body.

There'll be traces of you at the scene.

- You need to what, eliminate me?

- That's right.

- Mike.

We were married for two years.

You really think I'd stab a man in the back?

- Petra, this is a murder investigation.

It's not personal.

- Married to the job, same old, same old.

- That's all we need for now.

Have you filled any details?

And you've got a ride home?

- Mr. Drake is taking me.

- My contact details are on the form and I'm at the high school.

- Sir, could we have a few words?

- Finally.

- Excuse me.

Is that yours?

- No.

- It belonged to the author.

Or should I say the deceased?

- Oh, well in that case, please don't touch it.

Can you bag that?

- For all we know, it could contain the vital clue to the killer's identity.

- Mm.

Yes.

- They're not bad, these.

- Wish I could.

- Go on.

Your secret will be safe with me.

- Nah, we don't need it on the job.

You fill your boots though.

- Is this gonna take long?

- Doesn't have to.

Full name.

- Kenneth Lowell Carnaby.

I go by KL for my pin name.

- Oh, you're an author?

- Not as well known as tonight's guest, obviously.

- Do you write crime too?

- Literary fiction.

And of course I teach.

I taught this fellow.

Not my most talented student, but this has been on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks.

Utter drivel!

- Well, why'd you buy one then?

- To see if he would've the gall to sign it.

- Did he?

- Fortunately, yes.

Yeah, I'll make thousands from that now.

- You didn't like this guy, did you?

- I thought you said this was gonna be quick.

- I hope you told the truth.

- You're drunk.

- And you're a tramp!

- You are way out of line.

- Oh, you couldn't wait to come sniffing around.

I paid for that place.

- I dunno what you're talking about.

- Oh, don't play the innocent.

- Alright, let's keep things civil.

- Is everything all right?

- We've got everything we need for tonight.

Thank you.

We'll be in touch.

- Don't let her drive, she's tanked.

- Yeah.

Well, you're not exactly sober.

- Yeah.

Well, I'm not driving.

My fiance's picking me up.

- Fiance?

- Yeah, we met at that music festival.

- When I was looking after your dog?

(car horn honking) - He's an Artisan Cheese maker.

- You'd have to be barking mad to marry that woman.

She's got the morals of an alley cat.

Huh?

They were seen.

- By?

- This person gave me the information in confidence, but 100% reliable.

- Breen, could you drive Ms. Holst home?

- Sure, boss.

- I'll make a statement.

Happy to.

- Did that come as a surprise?

- If it's true, Petra lied to my face.

- And the answer to the million dollar question, what does a famous author keep in his bag?

- [Mike] Is?

- Yeah, Reverend Green was really keen on something in there.

- Our man was traveling light.

Laptop and condoms.

- Oh, okay.

Clearly he was expecting a busy night.

- More so than a knife in the back, I guess.

Okay, start with a weapon.

Distinctive, bone handle.

You told me that the bookshop owner, Maxine Holst admits that it was hers.

She believes it was on a side table upstairs.

So let's start with her, you saw entering, and leaving the main room.

- Okay.

Mrs. Marlowe entered, Kayle what's his face entered.

Reverend Green exited.

Maxine entered and Petra exited.

I'm just not sure about these two.

- I didn't get much out of her last night.

She could barely talk.

- I'll do a follow up.

Get anything on next of kin?

- Parents dead.

And there's a brother in Canada who's about to become very wealthy.

- If he'd left it all to the next of kin.

- How rich is he?

- Oh, loaded.

A string of bestsellers.

Movie adaptation in the works.

- So money is a possible motive.

- One of them.

We've got several suspects with connections.

Carnaby used to be his teacher, and Petra was possibly intimate with him.

- Possibly?

- Well, at this stage it's only hearsay.

- So you'll be doing a follow up with?

- Yeah.

Breen, do a deep dive into his laptop.

Google search his emails, and Kristin, check out where he was staying.

(bright music) - Oh, no.

Wait!

Don't touch anything!

- Sorry.

I didn't know anyone was booked in.

- I'm not a client, I'm CIB.

Can I get your name?

- Toni Morris.

- Morris?

Have you got a daughter?

- Yeah.

Lindy.

- So you know what happened last night?

- Yeah.

- Poor kids pretty shocked.

- Then you can understand that this is a place of interest to police.

Please don't touch or move anything.

- Yeah.

Sorry, I didn't think.

Maxine told me to clean it, so.

- As in Maxine Holst?

- Yeah, she made the booking.

She rang me this morning.

- Didn't exactly pick up after himself, did he?

- Rich people are the worst.

- Is this your place?

- Huh?

I just manage it.

The owner lives overseas.

He doesn't rent it out often.

It's two grand a night.

- Two grand?

- Yeah.

My van costs that much.

- How many nights was he booked in for?

- A couple of weeks.

- That's quite an investment.

Has Maxine rented this place out for other visiting authors?

- Hell no.

She went the extra mile for this one.

She was all over it, tizzing around.

Think she was setting up for a honeymoon.

- Use these, Egyptian cotton.

They're mine.

The place needs to be immaculate, and the service needs to be invisible.

He's a writer, so he can't be disturbed.

- Okay.

- Must check with me before any cleans.

No casual visits.

- You think she had romantic expectations?

- Well, yeah.

Anyway, I'll leave you to it.

Just lock up when you're done.

- But you have a key?

There's a lock box outside, code's 2512.

(gentle music) (gentle music continues) - Well, Jack, you're a get around guy.

- [Gina] I do not want to look at this face any longer.

- What have you got for me?

- No surprises.

The six inch paper knife found in the body caused the death.

- And fingerprints said that the knife was wiped clean, again no surprises.

Does the wound tell us anything?

- Angle of entry suggests two things.

Either the killer was taller than this man, or he had already started to descend the stairs when he was struck.

Both are possible.

- So the offender was either tall or short?

- Or in between, yes.

- Oh, just one stab wound?

- Correct.

The killer was forceful.

This knife is not sharp, but it was plunged in so deeply it severed the carotid artery.

- Though not much blood at the scene.

- The bleeding was internal.

Hardly anything on the rug.

It has a busy pattern for giving off small stains.

It'll not need cleaning.

- Oh, I'll pass that on.

Time of death?

– If supper break comes shortly after 8: 00 p.m. and the body was found at 8:34.

- A 30 minute window.

- If you have motive, opportunity and the weapon is to hand, that's plenty of time.

(cellphone ringing) - Sims.

- At Rudd's Love shack, I found a few things, including a pair of women's underwear.

- [Mike] I don't suppose there's a name tag in them.

- And there's more.

Two champagne flutes.

One with lipstick, both with prints and the lab's gotta match with them already.

One's Rudd.

- And the other's, Petra.

- Affirmative.

Do you want me to handle this?

- [Mike] No.

Leave it with me.

- Copy that.

- Petra.

Yeah, Mike, can we meet up?

Are these yours?

- No.

Not my size, my color, or my style.

I like a thong as you know.

Can I go now?

- Not quite.

Your fingerprints were found on a glass in Jack Rudd's bedroom.

Can you explain that?

- I paid him a visit.

- Any particular reason?

- To discuss literature.

- I need a straight answer, Petra.

What were you doing in Jack Rudd's bedroom?

- All right.

I shagged him.

- So why did you lie to me?

- I don't want anything getting back to my fiance.

It would hurt him.

- Jesus.

Are you sure about this marriage?

You've only just met the guy.

- All right.

It's impulsive, but you know when you feel it, right?

- Sure.

But people usually wait until after the wedding before they start cheating.

- Don't make this about us.

I'm not proud of myself, but Jack was... You don't meet guys like that every day.

- So when did you meet him?

- A few days ago at my fiance's restaurant.

It's attached to the workshop.

And Jack was having lunch in the garden.

He looks good in his jacket photos, but in the flesh.

Excuse me.

I know who you are.

- I have no idea who you are, but I'd love to find out.

What are you doing?

- What, now?

- Yeah, right now.

- I know it sounds bad, but I knew that Jack wasn't here for long.

So I thought, well, so long as no one knows, then what harm does it do?

- You don't change, do you?

- Neither do you.

Look at this car.

Don't judge me, Mike.

I know I'm not perfect, but I never killed anyone.

- Petra says, these don't belong to her.

- And you believe it?

- She copped everything else.

- Oh, no wonder Maxine was so septic.

- Petra did suggest that those might belong to her.

Perhaps you could have that conversation.

- Well, they are Maxine's price point.

- Less costs more, right?

- Well, they're not priced by the yard, Mike.

- How's the computer draw going?

- Interesting.

Followed up on the will, pretty standard next of kin.

That's hot.

But there's a big lawsuit rowing.

Guess who's trying to sue Jack Rudd for a cool million?

This guy.

- [Maxine] Enjoy.

(muffled indistinct talking).

- Could I have a few words?

- Your colleagues said I was allowed to reopen.

Is there a problem?

- No.

So long as no one goes up the stairs.

- Well, we've had rubber neckers outside all morning, of course.

Wanting to see where it happened.

Sadly, it's been quite good for business.

- Well, I won't hold you up.

Do you know who this belonged to?

- Those are mine.

Well, then you probably know they were found in Jack Rudd's bedroom.

- Well, that's not evidence of anything.

- No, but it does indicate a sexual relationship.

- I'm aware of how it looks, but I can assure you that our connection was well established before we met.

This was not a cheap hookup.

- And how would you describe the relationship?

- Started professionally.

As a correspondence.

I contacted Jack's publisher about a personal appearance, and Jack responded.

- How did he respond?

- Warmly.

We started emailing, and things quickly developed into something more personal.

Not at my instigation.

He was keen to come.

He also said he was single and finding it lonely.

- So he invited a relationship?

- Why else would he have said that?

So I arranged everything and he came, and it was perfect.

We had dinner together on his first night.

We drank champagne.

Went back to his place, we talked.

It was a deep soul connection, then he changed.

The next day, he summoned me.

He was brusque.

- Who's been in here?

Things are missing.

- What things?

- Personal stuff.

My watch, my shaver.

- I'm so sorry.

I don't know how that happened, but I can replace everything.

I'll do it tomorrow.

- You think you can buy a Rolex in this town?

- Oh, well, the shaver anyway.

And I'll reimburse you for the watch.

- It was a gift.

It was engraved.

- Oh, Jack, I'm mortified.

- I was clear about my needs.

Security and privacy.

- Of course.

- Can you make sure no one else gets in here?

And when you do bring the shaver, leave it outside.

I'm writing, I can't be disturbed.

- But he wasn't writing.

He was out and about.

Seen everywhere, drinks, dinners.

- Who did he have dinner with?

- Reverend Green.

I know.

- Did you spring for the watch?

- But I felt responsible, and I really thought... - That you had a future with him?

- That's what he led me to believe.

Definitely.

And that's how he behaved until, until he found other options and I became disposable.

- Afternoon.

Beautiful place.

- [KL Carnaby] Yes.

It's lovely, isn't it?

Sadly, it's not mine.

Shall we go and talk in the hut.

That way, I'll feel at least like I'm working.

- Why were you suing Rudd?

- He stole from me.

- Must have been something valuable.

- Yeah, a plot.

Yeah, it's the best one I ever concocted, and he stole it.

Lock, stock, and barrel.

- How?

- Well, he was doing a master's in creative writing.

The course I run, his portfolio was weak, you know, it was pretentious and derivative.

The star that year was Hamish Drake.

- The teacher?

- Yeah.

Your local high school.

Never did climb the heights, but he could have.

Anyway, they were both part of my tutorial group.

And I'd just come up with this plot, and I knew it was good and I wanted to use it to illustrate a point.

So I laid it out for them.

The whole thing.

I have to admit, I was quite proud of it.

So you can imagine my surprise when Jack Rudd's first novel was published nine months later.

And there it was my plot, every detail, straight steal.

- Why go after him now?

- He sold the movie rights to a major studio.

It's like striking gold.

And here am I approaching retirement.

And all I really wanted was a share of what was rightfully mine.

- So you hired a lawyer?

- Well, I thought we could deal with it like gentlemen.

So I took him out for lunch.

A percentage of the rights payment and a credit.

That's all I'm after.

- Saying what?

- Original story by, could even be a shared credit.

- Why would I give you that?

- That's my due.

- Kenneth, your books don't sell.

They're boring.

I took your straw and I spun it into gold.

- So you admit you took from me.

- A few details.

The basic shape.

- It was wholesale theft.

- Try and prove it.

I've got deeper pockets than you.

You won't win.

- Why can't you just do the decent thing?

- 'Cause I don't feel like it.

I ripped you off, boohoo.

What are you gonna do about it?

- I'll see you in court, Jack.

- I don't think so.

- Nice try old man.

- [Mike] You must have been angry that he second guessed you.

- I suppose you are looking for a motive detective.

- Of course.

We have to ask.

Who had reason to want Jack Rudd dead?

- He was more use to me alive actually.

Although I suppose I could still sue the estate.

- It's all going to a brother in Canada.

- Really?

What, no wives, ex-wives?

- Rudd was a rolling stone, gathered no moss.

- He was a phony and a failure.

At the end of the day, Jack Rudd got what he deserved.

- It was just a friendly gesture.

A simple home cooked meal.

- And is this a gesture you generally extend to visiting authors?

- As it happens, no.

- So, why this author?

- I enjoy murder mysteries.

It was a chance to spend time with a master of the form, perhaps glean a few tips.

- And was it enlightening?

- Not really.

He was a disappointing conversationalist.

- A good story doesn't need flowery language, it simply needs attractive people wanting to have sex.

Having sex, or thinking about having sex, then you throw in a murder and hey presto.

Ungenerous.

I barely got a word in all night.

- I've gone to quite some trouble.

And he left before the pudding course.

Mrs. Marlowe had made a gooseberry fool, especially.

Perhaps it was presumptuous of me to impose on him.

He's an internationally celebrated author, and I'm nobody really.

Nevertheless, I was hopeful.

- What were you hoping for?

- More than I got.

- You seemed very interested in the author's Satchel.

- Did I?

- I had to ask you not to touch it.

- I was...

I was just, hmm.

I'd lent him something, I wanted it returned.

- What did you lend him?

- I'd rather not say.

- Where do you want these?

- Oh, wherever.

Anywhere you think.

No, I've got quite a lot to be getting on with.

So if you don't mind.

- Of course.

- It's very distressing this whole affair.

- Detective.

- Yes.

Hello.

- I might be able to shed a little light on that dinner at the manse.

- Oh, were you there all night?

- Well, the reverend couldn't put together a three course meal.

- So you did all the cooking?

- And the washing up.

I was quite prepared to serve a table as well, but the reverend put his foot down about that.

He told me in no uncertain terms, I was not to disturb them.

He wanted to be alone with that man, Rudd.

- Well, do you know why?

- Well, he's very attractive.

I am broad-minded, you know.

I have nothing against homosexuals.

- Are you serious?

Rudd scored the rev as well.

The guy was barely here a week.

- And on the seventh day he rested.

- It's only a supposition, but there's definitely something Reverend Green isn't telling us.

He had hopes, he was disappointed, which is Maxine's story too.

- And Carnaby's.

- There's definitely a theme emerging.

The guy was a user.

- Petra didn't feel used.

She gave Rudd a glowing report.

- You look a bit jealous.

- On the contrary.

I'm remembering why I walked away.

So at least three suspects have motive.

Maxine, Carnaby and even Reverend Green have a score to settle.

This Hamish Drake has history with Rudd too.

- Yeah, I'm seeing him tomorrow.

- I still can't get my head around Rudd and Reverend Green.

Something seems off.

- Yeah, but if you'd seen him, he was acting like a jilted lover.

- Breen, here you go.

- Attempted break in at the Airbnb Love nest.

They're holding the suspect on site.

(bright music) - Could be the same person who took the watch and shaver.

- Back for more loot.

Risky.

- Not to mention, stalkery.

- I just want to get it back, the thing that I gave him.

- Is it a valuable item?

- I'm embarrassed to admit it, but.

I wonder if you would do me a very great favor.

- What kind of favor?

- Would you read this?

It's a novel.

I wrote it myself.

- I see that.

- It's a murder mystery.

Just an amateur's attempt.

But oh, I thought as a master of the craft, you might have a few pointers to offer.

- There's a lot of reading here.

- Am I asking too much?

- No.

No, of course not.

But if I'm gonna do your work justice, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to cut the evening short.

- Oh, must you?

- I don't see how else I'll get through it.

- No, no, I wasn't expecting an instant answer.

- I'll start tonight.

- He assured me I'd hear from him very soon and I didn't.

- Yeah.

Well he had a very hectic schedule while he was here.

- Yes, I learned that.

Days went by, not a word from him.

I started to get anxious.

So I paid him a call hoping to find him.

And I did.

But he wasn't alone.

- "He became aware of the urgent throbbing pulse of the organ.

Were the dead man's fingers playing?"

- [Petra] On his organ?

- [Jack] "He stiffened" - [Petra] Oh, stop it.

- It says it right there.

"An icy chill evading his loins."

- [Petra] I never knew loins could be pervaded.

- Oh, but they can... (Petra chuckling) Nobody gets what they want - That was my only copy.

The work of years.

I could never rewrite it.

- We did a thorough search of the premises.

There's nothing there.

- And it's not in his bag?

- If it does turn up, we'll make sure it's returned to you.

- That's all I want.

- So we didn't charge him?

- Budding author, who knew?

- Who writes a novel by hand, and doesn't make a copy?

- Sensitive rule clergymen.

- Well, I think we can discount him as the offender.

- And he says he didn't nick the watch, or shaver either.

- So who did?

- Well, Breen has a theory.

- Rudd had fans, right?

Obsessive fans.

There's reams of it online.

- Did they contact him directly?

- Oh yeah.

And he gets back to them, and some of it gets pretty steamy.

- Anyone on the board?

- No, but someone known to us.

- I did not have any correspondence with him.

Thank you very much.

- Someone else did.

- Yes, I wrote to him in a professional capacity.

- Who made the contact?

- I did.

To correct him on procedure.

The pathology on his work was sloppy.

I felt he was being badly advised.

I said this.

- How did he respond?

- He begged me to advise him.

And so it began.

He sent me a murder, I sent him the pathology report.

I was exact and thorough.

- I'll expect nothing less.

- Soon, his book was published.

Not one word did he change.

My writing with his name on it.

- Did he offer payment?

- I did not ask.

I was happy to be of use.

And then he became personal, romantic.

- In what way?

- Would I meet him?

Could he come to me?

Would I send money for a ticket?

- But he was loaded.

- He mentioned a cashflow problem.

He was not liquid.

- I hope you didn't send anything.

- Please, I'm Russian.

I do not fall for this kind of scam.

I told him, you want to come, buy your own ticket.

- How did he take that?

- No reply.

And then the new book, "Knife in the Back" with a killer who is a frigid pathologist called Nina.

- After that, you still went to the reading?

- I'm not a wilting flower.

I just wanted to see this man who will take my knowledge and mock me.

Mike, I want you to know that nothing happened between this Rudd and me.

- I understand.

- He was a betrayer.

He stole people's lives, and put them in his books.

- Thank you, Gina.

You've been very helpful.

- It is a particular smell.

- BO, hormones and socks.

This about the other night?

- Yeah.

We're following up with everyone who was there, particularly people who had a connection to Jack Rudd.

- Well, I guess you know we went to uni together.

- Yes, we spoke to your old tutor.

- Did you get a word in edgeways?

- My boss said he was very loquacious.

- That's a good word.

- Carnaby said that you were his star pupil.

- He liked my stuff.

- So why didn't you stick to writing?

- Straight to the tough questions.

It is not just about talent, you gotta have killer instinct.

You know, be ruthless, promote yourself.

I don't have a clue about that sort of stuff.

Classic introvert.

The polar opposite of Jack.

And that's why I liked him.

He would bring the party.

All I had to do was tag along.

We were good friends.

- Did you stay in touch after uni?

- Initially.

Well, we were on the same track.

We both written novels, and looking for publishers.

And then I got the call, the one you dream of.

An agent from Sydney loved my work, loved the sample I sent, wanted to read the book, wanted me to come over.

Jack said I should jump in it, so I did.

And he tagged along for the ride, and jumped on the agent.

It wasn't me she wanted anymore.

He got published instead got a deal on the states and got launched.

- That must have been a kick in the teeth.

- I lost my confidence.

Put the book in the bottom drawer and stopped hustling.

But like I said, you gotta want it.

Maybe I didn't want it enough.

- You're not bitter?

- What's the point?

I made my choice and I love teaching.

Inspiring the next generation.

- Oh, sorry.

I'll come back later.

- See, when you find one like her, it makes it all worthwhile.

- Is she your star pupil?

- Yeah, she is.

She's very special.

(bell chiming) - Detective.

More questions?

- Well, until there are answers, there are always more questions, Maxine.

- Right?

Well that's very existential.

- But right now I'm here as a customer.

Do you have any Jack Rudd's?

- Oh, I've just got a new order and they've been flying off the shelves.

- I'll take one of everything.

- Well, I haven't even opened the box yet.

- Right, well while you are doing that, I'll take another look around upstairs.

- Oh well the tape's still up.

No one's been up there.

- There you go.

Didn't even have to ask the question.

(gentle music) (lock switching) - Everything all right, detective?

Your books.

- Huh.

Well, is there usually something hanging there?

- My silk wall hanging.

Japanese.

- You didn't know it was gone.

- God, the public.

If it's not tied down.

My second husband bought me that in Osaka on our honeymoon.

It's a beautiful word, isn't it?

Honeymoon.

Don't suppose I'll be doing that again.

- You never know.

I've had more than a couple.

- Yes, but you're a man.

(keyboard clattering) - Oh my God.

- "Cold Cuts."

Setting some freezing works.

Couple of young varsity students working on the holidays.

One gets butchered.

- Not ideal off duty reading for a homicide detective.

- Agreed.

Far as in your shoes, I'll be going for romance.

- Somehow, it's never really worked out for me.

Well as a literary genre.

- Yeah, but all the greats are there.

We got Emily, Charlotte, and my personal favorite, the mighty Jane.

- I don't think Jane Austen's gonna help me figure out who bumped off Jack Rudd.

- You see what all of this is about?

- Rudd was an egotist.

They always leave a trail.

- Well, I'll leave you to it.

Have fun hey.

Hey, you wanna know who did it?

- Reckon I'll figure it out.

- Anyone read this?

- "To Sir with Loathing."

Bad title?

- It's all there.

Two friends, both writers.

One's a success, the other a failure.

Moves to a small town, and gets a job as an English teacher, then has an affair with a 16-year-old pupil.

I mean, that's gotta be Hamish.

- It is.

- Rudd sends a coded message outing Hamish as a sexual predator.

So Hamish bumps off Rudd to protect his dirty secret.

- You've been Googling, haven't you?

- Hmm.

It's all in the book.

- And on the internet.

Hamish left his last job under a cloud.

He was having sex with a teenager.

- Oh Jesus.

- So it all fits.

- Like a glove.

I did wonder, that night the way he was with Lindy.

And at the school yesterday, she came into his room scuttled off pretty quickly when she saw I was with him.

- Yeah.

Talk to her again and revisit the mother.

She must have noticed something.

I'll push Hamish to see how far I can get.

- Are you involved with Lindy Morris?

- You mean sexually?

- Yes.

- Absolutely not.

- But you have previously had affairs with pupils.

- Not affairs, plural.

One affair.

And she was an ex pupil.

I was very careful about that.

- Nonetheless, you lost your job.

- I resigned.

It was my decision.

- Following complaints to the board.

- All right, I could see where the parents were coming from.

It did blur the lines.

I was 30, she was 18.

She had left school, the relationship was legal, but I didn't fight the objections.

I left.

- Did the relationship continue?

- A few months and then she ended it.

With a younger guy.

A job came up here and I thought, great, fresh start.

- Did you declare all this to your employers?

- I'd be a mug to try and hide it, wouldn't I?

I explained the circumstances.

- Did Jack Rudd know about this?

- Yeah.

Yeah.

I told him.

And he put it in a book.

- "To Sir with Loathing."

- Terrible title.

- How'd you feel about that?

- Unsurprised.

Jack steals from everyone.

That's who he is.

- He did more than steal, he was defaming you.

- Yes, He said I was a serial abuser, and a borderline psycho predator.

Jack likes to juice things up.

I don't prey on teenage girls.

- Do you take anyone else to book club or just Lindy?

- Lindy can write.

Teachers like me who care always hope they can find that person, that needle in the haystack, the one that makes this craft all worthwhile.

(school bell ringing) Lindy's that girl I would never, ever mess with her.

Mom would break my legs.

- No way would Hamish do anything like that.

- Well, I hate to say it, but it is often the people that seem the most trustworthy.

Youth workers, teachers.

- Yeah, okay.

But I got a pretty good radar for that sort of thing.

Being a single mom you have to.

- So you don't have any concerns about Hamish?

- Yeah, I said that.

Look, you barking up the wrong tree.

- You wouldn't happen to know anything about a couple of items that have gone missing from here, would you?

- What's this about?

- Well, I'm just wondering if you've moved anything around, like personal items.

- Far out.

Whenever anything goes missing, everyone always blames the cleaner.

- Well, there's no sign of a break in, but there were definitely things missing.

So I'm just wondering how many people have the access code?

- Well, you've got it.

Plus I gave it to Maxine.

She didn't want me hanging around, but she was pretty keen on popping in, topping up the champagne bucket, changing the sheets.

She comes across all classy, but man she was gagging for him.

- I enjoyed Rudd's books as a insight into his character.

- Oh, what did you find?

- He likes using people, playing with their lives.

- Isn't that what writers do?

- Did you know that Hamish Drake had ambitions to be a writer?

- Not everyone achieves their dreams.

Those who can, do.

Those who can't, teach.

Isn't that what they say?

- Is he a good teacher?

- How would I know?

He's a good customer.

He never misses book club.

- Does he usually come alone?

- Not anymore.

He always brings the girl with him.

She sits there silent as a clam.

Only opens her mouth to eat the supper.

I've been wondering why she comes, but I suppose it's a good way of throwing her mother off the scent.

- Oh.

- Well it sounds innocent, doesn't it?

It's a good cover.

- Cover for what?

- Whatever a teacher and his pupil feel like doing outside school hours, Detective.

- Sorry to interrupt, Maxine.

I've come for my plate.

- Your plate?

- It was all the brouhaha the other evening, I left without it.

- It'll be in the kitchen.

- I hope so.

- I spotted the two of them in his car down by the estuary.

He'd taken a bit of trouble not to be seen.

They weren't taking in the view, put it that way.

- Was there any sexual contact?

- Not that I could see.

It was more... - I found it.

- Good.

It was the body language.

There was something between them.

- Was this the first time you noticed it?

- Yes, but I wasn't looking for it before.

This stuff goes on all the time under people's noses in broad daylight and no one sees it.

- Detective Shepherd.

- Call me Mike, please.

- Hamish has his reputation to maintain.

He boarded with me when he first came here, and a nicer chap you couldn't meet.

- Did he tell you why he came to Brokenwood?

- No business about the girl.

Oh, there was nothing in it.

- With respect, you don't know that.

- If you want my 2 cents worth, Maxine's making mischief to draw attention away from herself.

Did she mention to you what took place outside that night?

- The night of the murder?

- She was having quite a contratemps with that man, Rudd.

We were in the kitchen heating the savories when she suddenly took off.

We didn't have many pairs of hands, but we soldiered on, Lindy and I.

A few minutes later I was taking the kitchen tidy bag out to the bin and the pair of them were in the courtyard, going at it, hammer and tongs.

- I didn't pay for you to come here, and tomcat around with every small-town tramp that caught your eye!

- Oh, so you wanted exclusive rights!

- I wanted you.

- That doesn't make you unusual, but I'm not looking to tie myself down.

And even if I was, it wouldn't be with someone like you, Maxine.

- He was most unpleasant to, savage.

- You didn't think about coming forward with this earlier?

- No, I'm not one to gossip.

But I don't like what she's implying about Hamish.

And if she didn't tell you about what happened, well you need to ask yourself why.

- Kristin, I need you to come down to the bookshop.

Yeah, we need to put the heat on Maxine.

- I'm beginning to think you're wasting my time.

- Feeling's mutual.

- I've been extremely cooperative.

- But not entirely truthful.

- I beg your pardon?

- We've been told you had heated words just minutes before Jack Rudd was killed.

- Told by whom?

- An eye witness who could quote at length, talking about how he wouldn't wanna be with someone like you.

- It was very insulting.

- From a man that you've been more than generous to.

- He was giving out all the signals.

- He was a skilled player.

- I was hardly out of my league.

- Were you hoping to marry him?

- I wanted to share his life.

And he said he wanted that too.

- You must have been disappointed.

- So after this exchange, what did you do?

- I came back inside.

- Where exactly?

- The bookshop.

You were there.

- Oops.

Taxi.

- Well, I'd only just arrived and barely two minutes later, Jack Rudd was found dead.

- Which suggests that a slightly longer time elapse between your argument and Rudd's death.

- Does it?

- Well, think about it.

You argue, he goes inside, you follow.

He goes upstairs, you go into the bookshop.

Almost immediately, Petra leaves the bookshop and finds the body.

How does that add up?

- Or is it possible you didn't go back into the bookshop?

Is it possible you went somewhere else?

- Think carefully about what you did, where you were and who saw you.

- I was very upset.

I went to the bathroom.

I needed to do my face.

- Upstairs or downstairs?

- Downstairs.

- How long were you in there?

- Maybe 10 minutes.

I needed to take everything off and start again.

It's quite a business.

- Can anyone verify this?

- There was no one with me.

Why would there be?

- What about when you came out?

- There was someone waiting.

I came out and they slipped in.

- You didn't see who it was?

- I didn't make eye contact.

I was only just holding it together.

- And so that's when you came out into the bookshop.

- That's right.

- So at the time, Jack Rudd was murdered on your premises with your knife, you can't prove where you were.

- I've just told you!

- There's no witness.

- You knew the layout of the building.

You had a weapon, you had motive.

And as far as we know, you are the last person to see Jack Rudd alive.

- Petra found him.

- She found him dead.

- Petra had no reason to stab him in the back.

He didn't betray her.

- Did you kill Jack Rudd?

- I want you to leave!

I will not be answering any more questions without my lawyer!

- We have motive, opportunity, and a weapon.

- But no physical evidence or witnesses.

- [Mike] And in a Jack Rudd murder, there's always a twist.

- [Breen] Yeah, it's not stacking up for me either.

- Maxine is the woman spurned.

She spent big bucks on this guy.

- Yeah, big bucks to you and me, but not to rich people like her.

50K, a 100K, they don't miss it.

- Okay.

Pieces on the board, let's walk it through.

Here's our man and here's Maxine.

Let's assume she's telling the truth and she's in the downstairs toilet fixing her lippy.

Meanwhile, Kristin, Gina and Jared arrive, and see.

- Reverend Green.

This is Marlowe, KL Carnaby, Maxine and Petra.

- And that leaves Hamish and Lindy.

- According to Mrs. Marlowe, Lindy was helping with supper.

- But Mrs. Marlowe left the kitchen.

- Okay, well what did Lindy do then?

So at this point, as far as we know, the last person to see Jack Rudd alive was Maxine.

Or.

- That's heavy.

What state was she in when you talked to her?

- Numb.

Shocked.

- As you would be.

- Almost catatonic.

I mean, I just thought.

- How old is she?

- 16.

We won't bring Maxine in yet.

- What about Lindy?

- We'll talk to her in the morning.

Down on the beach with pail and spade No shelter from the sun.

- Still fond of a good pinot noir.

- What are you doing, Petra?

- I want to talk to you.

- That's all kinds of wrong.

You're a suspect in an active murder investigation.

- You know I didn't do it.

Besides, can't a woman drop in on her ex?

- I thought you didn't want the gossip.

- For you, I'll risk the reputational damage.

- Grab a glass then.

- Atta boy.

So are you getting close?

- Can't talk shop with you.

- Come on.

Just a hint.

I'm getting married next week.

Can't afford to have a murder wrap hanging over me.

- Next week.

Why the rush?

- Why wait?

It's not as if there's a better offer.

Besides, how was I to know the book club was gonna turn into a blood bath?

- Just saying maybe you should postpone.

- The cheese maker would be suspicious.

He'd want to know why.

- Tell him you need more time.

- But I don't.

I'm tired of being alone.

I like arms around me.

So I don't want any late stage revelations about me and Jack Rudd.

- At this point, you're not in danger of arrest.

- Thank you.

- But things change.

People hide things, so I'm not making any promises.

- Yeah, about that.

There is one tiny little thing that I didn't tell you.

- Why do you do this, Petra?

- It's nothing bad.

I just...

I took something from Jack's place.

- Personal items?

- No, this.

Some wannabe writer gave it to Jack.

We started reading it.

I got hooked.

I just wanted to find out what happened.

But I don't want it coming back to bite me.

So take it.

- Looks like an interesting read.

- It's pretty fruity.

- Since you are here, I've got a few questions.

- About?

- Book club, supper break, where you were.

- In the bookshop - All the time?

- I did pop up for a waz.

- Upstairs or downstairs?

- Both.

I tried downstairs, but someone was locked in.

I knocked, but they weren't budging.

- [Lindy] Leave me alone.

- [Mike] Do you know who it was?

- Female, sounded a bit like they'd been crying.

- Maxine?

- She was in the shop, falling off her high heels.

Anyway, I went upstairs and then.

- A woman crying.

- Yeah, like a country song.

- Huh.

- You know, you could talk me outta this wedding if you wanted to.

There's something between us.

- It's called history.

Goodnight, Petra.

(gentle music) - Any overnight brain waves?

- We're getting warmer.

Best you lead this one out, okay.

- Told you everything.

- It's actually Lindy we here to see.

We just have a few questions about Book club, Lindy.

How long have you been going?

- Just this year with Hamish.

- You like it?

Are you a reader?

- Anything she can get her hands on.

- English is my best thing.

It's the only thing I like at school.

- And Hamish is your teacher?

- He's the best teacher I've ever had.

He knows a lot about writing and he says, I've really got something.

He reckons the best way to improve your style is to read.

And he lends me a lot of stuff.

And at book club, I like meeting the writers.

- Mm.

Were you excited to meet Jack Rudd?

- Well, I like crime writing and he's good.

I've got his audio books.

Have you heard those?

- Yes.

He reads very well.

- He brings it alive.

I listen to them in bed.

It's like he's there in the room with you.

- I don't know that.

- I have them on quiet.

- So did you talk to him at the reading?

- We got there early, so I could get a book signed.

- Mm.

So you had a conversation?

- Not really.

- [Book Club Attendant] Thank you.

- There we go.

Lovely.

- Can you sign my book?

- Yeah, sure.

Name.

- Lindy Morris.

Can you say.

- There you go.

Next.

- He wrote things for other people, I saw him, but he didn't ask me if I wanted anything.

He just went.

He shoved it at me, and then he went next.

- And then what happened?

Well, there was a que, so I just took the book and then the reading started and then there was supper.

- Mrs. Marlowe said that you helped with that.

- She used to be my babysitter.

- She never charged me.

Heart of gold.

- So you were in the kitchen.

- Then I took some food out.

- Into the bookshop.

- Passing it round.

- Was Jack there?

- He was being really nice to everyone.

I thought maybe he was nervous before, and I wanted to say something to him so I went over.

- No, thank you.

- It's so amazing to meet you.

- I gotta go.

- Wait, I just wanna ask you something.

- Whatever you've been told, it's not true.

- I just... - Get away from me.

- What did you want to ask him?

- Tell them.

- If he was my dad.

- That's enough.

- I'm sorry it's upsetting.

- I've gotta get to work and Lindy's gotta get to school.

- Oh, I can drop her there if you like.

- Did I do something wrong?

- Oh no, love.

Jerk.

In front of everyone.

- Are you sure about him being her father?

- A 100%.

- How old were you?

- 22.

Worked in the varsity cafe.

Used to come in all the time, put stuff on the tab.

He never paid.

So I'd put money and cross him outta the book.

What a sucker.

But he was, well, you know what he was.

I knew I was gonna get my heart broken, but I didn't know I was gonna get up the duff.

- Did you tell him?

- Yeah.

And he went default setting.

Don't wanna know.

I couldn't prove it.

So he went off to Sydney and that was it.

No contact, no child support.

- It must have been hard.

- Cleaned a lot of toilets.

But who cares?

Lindy's the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Shame, her dad's such a prick.

- I always wondered if it was true.

Because I don't look like him.

Maybe it was just something she said, like a fairytale or something.

He looked at me like I was something he wanted to wipe off his shoe.

I felt like nothing.

I just wanted to hide.

I went to the bathroom, but someone was in there and I waited ages before she came out.

- Who was it?

- The bookshop lady.

She had way too much makeup on.

I locked myself in the toilet.

I didn't know what to do.

I thought everything mum told me was a lie.

- Did you see Jack Rudd when he was here?

- Why bother?

He made it clear he didn't wanna know me.

- But you let Lindy go to the reading.

- I didn't want to.

I knew it wouldn't end well.

He had a full on fight.

There was no stopping it.

There's no point, Lindy.

I just wanna ask him!

- He won't admit it!

He never has.

- But if he sees me, if I'm standing right there!

- It wouldn't make any difference!

- You don't know that!

- I did know.

I thought he's gonna slam her down and kick her in the guts.

That's who he is.

- What did you do?

- Drink a bottle of wine pretty fast.

It's kind of blurry after that.

- So you were at home?

- Yep.

- By yourself?

- Why?

- It would just be helpful if someone could confirm it.

- Believe me, or don't believe me, I don't care.

- Thanks for the lift.

- Lindy, while you were in the bathroom, did anyone knock on the door?

- I don't remember, why?

- Well, take a minute.

- I don't know, sorry.

(intense music) - [Mike] The mum's an interesting prospect.

- And it clears one thing up.

- She took the watch and the shaver.

- She had access.

She has a motive.

And taking the shaver at least to get DNA.

- That would eat away at you.

Someone denying your child who's theirs.

- So what if she had the results to the DNA test?

It's a positive.

- But no one in the bookshop saw her.

I mean, what are the odds?

- The building is a rabbit warren, so it's risky, but she's got a hell of a motive.

- Okay.

She's got the results, proof on Rudd and thinking about the will.

- Everything to next of kin.

- Which now includes Lindy.

She wants to confront him.

- Okay, so Toni goes straight in the front door.

I'm inside, no one sees her.

- [Mike] How else could she have got in?

- I come around the back.

It's a much safer option.

- Back door's not locked.

- Yeah, because Maxine wouldn't have bothered about that with the state she was in.

- [Mike] Or.

- Yeah, but why would you bother if the door's open?

- Either way it's possible.

Toni gets in, she finds Jack.

She confronts him.

- He denies it.

But she's got the proof.

- He doesn't care.

He dares her to take him to court.

He's got deep pockets.

She won't win.

He walks away.

- She sees the knife.

It's a split second thing.

- It works.

- Yeah.

But only with the DNA results.

(gentle music) - What now?

- We have a warrant to search these premises.

- Are you kidding?

- Afraid not.

- I don't have time for this!

- Won't be long.

They know what they're doing.

(muffled overlapping chatter) (intense music) - Yeah, okay.

I took them.

- [Kristin] While you were cleaning?

- No, I was still setting up.

I was there when he arrived.

- Whew!

Hang those up.

Wow.

- He didn't even look at my face.

I was just a servant.

Felt like garbage.

I didn't even touch his clothes.

I just walked out.

I couldn't drive.

It wasn't safe, so I pulled off the road.

I wasn't thinking anything.

It wasn't a plan.

And then I saw them.

I knew what was going down.

She was gonna get what she wanted, so was I.

(engine revving) When I got pregnant, you couldn't get these results unless you're a cop or something.

Now you can get them online.

24 hours if you pay the express fee.

It was a match.

Of course I knew it would be, but to see it was.

I wanted him to know I didn't lie.

I wanted him to look at me.

- You broke in here and stole my DNA!

- I didn't break in!

I have a key.

- I could have you charged!

Is that all you care about?

- It's entrapment!

- Jack, you have a child.

- It won't stand up in court.

Her name is Lindy.

- Just get out!

- Here she is.

Your daughter.

- She's nothing!

You are nothing.

Now are you gonna go, or am I gonna call the cops?

- He didn't wanna know his own flesh and blood.

- When was this that you showed him the results?

- The day he died.

- And that night, after you fought with Lindy, did you stay at home or did you go looking for Jack?

- Why would I wanna see that (beep) again?

- She already lied more than once.

- Yeah, she said she didn't take the razor, she did.

She said she never saw Rudd while he was here, she did.

- So she could be lying about this too.

- Yeah, but how is that possible?

I mean, how could she be coming and going without somebody...

Hold the bus.

When you were at the bookshop the night that Jack Rudd was murdered, did you see anyone on the street?

- Why do you ask?

- Just yes or no?

- Yes.

I just stepped out and I saw this woman, and I noticed her 'cause she was, well, she was a very attractive wahine.

- What was she doing?

- Walking toward me.

- And can you give us a description?

- Do you want me to say that she's hot?

- Well, if she was, then sure.

- No, I'm not gonna say that, that's just demeaning.

And no, it was more meaningful than that.

- Jared, we need... - No, seriously, she was walking toward me like the girl from Ipanema.

She was tall and tan, all of that.

And I was thinking this could lead to somewhere other than Ipanema, preferably somewhere local, you know.

- And then.

- Well, and then this van backed out and just about pulled her over.

- Did you see who was driving?

- Nah, didn't stop.

- But it was a white van?

- Aren't they all?

- This is important.

- Yeah.

Yeah, it was white with some kind of logo.

- Green writing.

- Yeah, something.

Something fresh.

Yo, it turns out she wasn't from Ipanema, but my cousin from Hamilton.

It was a bit gutting really.

- Toni, we need you to answer a few more questions.

- I'm working.

Move your vehicle.

- You need to come down to the station now.

- Or what?

- Or we'll arrest you.

- I've heard enough of you people!

- You've lied to us three times.

We know that you were at the bookshop the night of the murder.

- Says who?

- An eye witness has you driving away from the scene in this van.

- Mom.

- You're not really gonna do this, put the cuffs on me in front of my kid.

- We don't need to cuff you.

You can just get in the car.

- What's happening, mom?

- It's your choice, Toni.

- It be wise to cooperate.

- I'm just gonna go and answer a few questions, hun.

I'll be back in a minute.

- I can stay here with her.

- Whatever.

Don't talk to her.

- No, she didn't kill him!

- Zip it!

- Is there anything you've told us that you want to change?

- Yeah.

Okay.

I did go out that night.

I went to the shop.

- What time?

- I don't know.

After I drank the wine.

It was just so wild, thinking about my baby.

I was ready to shame, march in there and show him up.

I got there and I saw his face.

I knew she had this fantasy that he'd see her and he'd know, and it'd all be roses.

She'd have her dad at last.

Like everyone else.

Couldn't do it.

I knew he'd deny it.

Humiliate my girl.

Take away her dream.

- Is there anyone that I can call?

Someone you'd like to be with?

- No.

- Mrs. Marlowe, maybe.

- I just want mom.

Is she going to jail?

- Not at this point.

- But she might.

- Well, it's too early to say - She didn't kill him.

I know she wanted to, but she didn't.

- It's okay.

You don't have to say anything, Lindy.

- It wasn't her.

It was me.

- What's up?

- We've got a situation.

Lindy's confessed.

- To murder?

- Yep.

I've got her next door.

- That doesn't feel right.

- It could be.

No one remembers her going into the bathroom or coming out of it.

She's unaccounted for.

- Toni, could you join us?

In your own time, Lindy.

- I did it.

I killed him.

He wouldn't talk to me and I was angry with him, so I went after him.

He went up the stairs, and a lady came outta the bathroom.

And so I went in and I hid there till she was gone.

And then I came out and I went up the stairs, and I stabbed him with the knife.

- Oh no.

- What did the knife look like, Lindy?

- Big.

- Could you show us how big?

- Lindy is indicating approximately 30 to 40 centimeters, correct?

- Yes.

- Was there much blood?

- Yes, but not on me.

- I want to stop this.

- No, don't!

- Love, you can't.

- Leave me alone.

Just leave me alone.

- I think we should take a break, Lindy.

We've got your confession.

It's all in there.

It's safe.

- Why don't you have a moment with your mom.

(indistinct) Take me away - She's got the size of the knife wrong.

The amount of blood is wrong.

Everything's wrong.

- She's protecting her mum.

- Take them home.

- Are we arresting Toni?

- No.

She came voluntarily and we're not charging her.

- Why not?

- It's just a hunch.

Take them home, but watch the house.

(gentle music) Thanks for coming in.

Do you know this voice?

- [Lindy] Leave me alone.

Just leave me alone.

- That's who I heard.

- In the downstairs bathroom?

- Yeah.

Right before I found Jack and there were little noises.

Indistinct like crying.

And then.

- [Lindy] Leave me alone.

- You're positive.

- It's the same person.

- What's the boss playing at?

- Oh, I don't know.

He's not sharing.

- What do you think?

- Oh, definitely the mom, but Lindy's covering.

- Oh, Mr. Pervy.

- Hmm.

Mike, they've got a visitor.

- The English teacher?

- Yeah.

- [Mike] Still with the limp.

- Affirmative.

Do we go in?

- [Mike] Nah, sit tight.

Got one more thing I wanna try.

- Mike, there's no I in team.

What's going on?

- It's a cool backstory.

- Mike stuff.

- Hmm-hmm.

(gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music continues) - Nah.

Hi, I need a ladder.

- Now, I'm not curious, but Kristin would like to know what you're up to.

- Testing a hypothesis.

I think it holds.

It's a bit nippy out.

Can I come in?

- Is this about Lindy?

- Yeah.

- Toni called me.

Just been around there.

She's beside herself.

- Have you known Toni long?

- How do you mean?

- I mean, when did you first meet her?

How far back do you go?

- To university.

- She told us she worked in the cafe.

- Yeah, she had pink hair back then.

I never got to talk to her, but Jack didn't have that problem.

- You liked her?

- But she wasn't looking at me.

Then after a couple of months she wasn't there anymore more.

- Did you know what had happened?

- The first I knew about it was when I moved here.

I was boarding at Mrs. Marlowe's place and Toni was living next door with Lindy.

- And that's when Toni told you?

- I couldn't believe it.

I mean it was completely in character, but what an idiot?

To turn your back on that, to deny it.

- Was there any doubt in your mind?

- No.

The timing made complete sense.

You should have seen her when she knew Jack was coming.

You should see him, Toni, confront him.

- There's no point.

He won't admit it.

- He's got a moral duty.

- He doesn't know the meaning of that word.

- But think, I know how hard you work, but it is tough and Lindy is smart.

She should go to university and he should pay for it.

- I know.

But he won't.

- So make him.

Get the proof.

I didn't think she would, but she did it, and he still denied it.

Said he would fight it every inch of the way.

It was disgusting.

- What about Lindy?

Did she know about any of this?

- A couple of days before the reading at the end of school.

- I'm gonna meet my dad.

Can you believe it?

- I had to get her outta there.

It wasn't the place to talk.

You can't shut the door if you're in a classroom with a student anymore.

And with my history, I didn't want any gossip.

I took her to the estuary.

- Do you think he'll know me, like instantly just feel it?

- Don't get your hopes up, Lindy.

- Why?

Is it not true?

- No, no, I'm sure it is, but.

- What?

- You don't how he'll react.

- But he'll want me, won't he?

- I had this awful feeling about it, but I didn't wanna trash her dreams.

And then on the night he was brutal.

- Whatever you've been told, it's not true.

- He just rubbed her out.

- I just... - And walked away.

It tore my heart out.

- How could you do that?

- She's not my kid.

- Toni showed me the test results.

- Deluded slag.

- Why can't you do the right thing for once?

Acknowledge your own child and be a man.

- Oh like you know what that is.

The author ran, the nobody.

- This is not about me.

- No, nothing's about you mate.

What are you?

You're an English teacher in a little town.

You have no life, no story!

You're a loser.

I'm outta here.

(Jack falling) (gentle music) - It's quite high that roof.

- There was no other way.

I jumped.

It hurt like hell, but I could walk just, and there was no one around.

It was surreal.

(indistinct muffled chattering) Everybody was chatting and eating and then.

(Petra screaming) - What did you think would happen?

- I had no idea.

I mean, none of it was planned.

I was just waiting, I guess.

But I never thought Lindy would take the rap, and I couldn't let that happen.

It would wreck her life and Toni's.

- I will have to arrest you, Hamish.

- I'll come quietly.

There it is, the title for my memoirs.

- Mike, I've got Toni out here.

- We're finished.

Come in.

- Oh, what have you done?

What about your job?

- What about it?

I'll never teach again, I know that.

- It's not fair.

- It's okay.

I did the crime, it's on me.

- I'll come and see you.

You were right Love takes time - That's all I want.

- Jack was an idiot and he was wrong.

I've got a story and now I've got the time to write it.

- Hats off to you, boss.

You've got the confession.

- We got the confession.

- Oh, come on, it was you.

- It was backstory plus character.

- Yeah.

In a strange way, he is a decent guy.

- Yeah, I take back the Mr. Pervy stuff.

- Nice place for a wedding.

- Hmm.

I'm still surprised you got an invite.

- We're adults.

No hard feelings.

- You sure it's okay bringing me?

- Well, the invite did say and partner.

- Yeah, well not work partner.

Is that the cheesemaker?

- Looks like it.

- Back in a tick.

- Okay.

- This came into my possession.

I thought you might want it back.

- My manuscript.

- Great plot.

Distinct tone.

You should get it published.

- I'm very grateful.

- Oh, congratulations mate.

Best of luck.

(bright music) - I hope he knows what he's in for.

- Well, maybe they'll make it.

Maybe it's third time a charm.

Magic in your touch Take my hand - Underneath it all, you're quite a romantic, aren't you?

- It's the triumph of hope over experience.

You gotta love it.

- Dearly beloveds.

We are gathered here today.

Take my hand With every day in love (bright music) (bright music) (bright music continues)